Similar to years past, I grade drafts based on the opportunities available to that front office on draft night and a short time before it. A franchise hampered by a years-old trade or previous mistakes do not get further penalized for it, while teams that squander resources now absolutely do. Nailing the #1 pick is good but accomplishing more with less will be more heavily praised.
Great Drafts
Nuggets: The Denver front office has to be doing backflips that Emmanuel Mudiay fell to them. He should be able to run an NBA offense and eventually defend both guard positions- an absolute steal at No. 7.
Raptors: Masai Ujiri got a future first round pick for a non-starter who will be an unrestricted free agent a year from now. Astonishing. Delon Wright was not the best pick at No. 20, but he should be a useful contributor. Norman Powell can make his mark as a primary or secondary ballhandler who can defend both guard positions.
Heat: I have no idea how they got this lucky. Justise Winslow is a talented player who has won at every level and will thrive on a team where he can be a secondary scoring option. Josh Richardson could end up being a useful piece for them but Miami actually has a pretty good stable of young swingmen at this point with Winslow in the fold.
Timberwolves: They took the right player in Karl-Anthony Towns. He will be an excellent building block for Minnesota, presumably at center. I also really liked them using some seconds to pick up Tyus Jones, who fills an important need in the league as a primary ballhandler and could eventually become a starter.
76ers: He may not fit perfectly with their existing talent but I had Jahlil Okafor as the No. 2 player in this draft for a reason. He has a great back to the basket game and can actually pass from the post. They took Richaun Holmes and Guillermo Hernangomez in the second round but traded Hernangomez to the Knicks.
Good Drafts
Bulls: Even though he does not fill a position of need, Bobby Portis will be a good pro and makes sense for Chicago.
Magic: Orlando has taken solid, defense-first players in the last two drafts. Mario Hezonja will be the firepower they need on the perimeter and has the ability to defend both swingman positions. Tyler Harvey is a nice addition too that helps balance their roster.
Pacers: It may take some time but Myles Turner should become a useful rim protector at the minimum with the chance of becoming a starter at the league’s most valuable position. I really like the Joseph Young fit here as he can be the offensive engine of Indiana’s second unit.
Thunder: Cameron Payne is a nice pick for the Thunder because he can provide value as a primary ballhandler and scorer whether he starts (eventually) or comes off the bench (now).
Warriors: Kevon Looney fell further than he hoped but ended up in an excellent situation where he can recover without any pressure to play right away.
Rockets: I was surprised to see them take Sam Dekker with so many quality point guards on the board but he could be a nice fit as a shooter who can play both forward positions. We know that Daryl Morey loves a floor-stretching four. They did a nice job getting Montrezl Harrell in the second because he will battle and be able to fill a role.
Celtics: Terry Rozier was the most shocking pick of the first round, partially because he was a reach talent-wise and partially because he so completely overlaps with their existing talent. Then they go out and get RJ Hunter, a better player at No. 28 than they took at No. 16. Jordan Mickey adds some defensive potential to Boston’s front line along with a nice offensive game for a second rounder. Boston continued being the anti-Sixers by taking guard Marcus Thornton out of William & Mary, who has some nice physical potential.
Enh Drafts
Lakers: I am not as high on D’Angelo Russell as some but having a player who can defend Shooting Guards but lead an offense can be huge for a franchise with so many question marks. They used the pick acquired with Jeremy Lin to take Larry Nance in a heavy reach. Anthony Brown would have been a more justifiable pick at No. 27 but the Lakers got him seven picks later anyway. Brown can be a 3-and-D guy off the bench and potentially grow into a larger role a few years from now.
Suns: With two creators already on roster, Devin Booker makes some sense with Phoenix. His game is pretty much jump shooting right now but that can be useful for the now and in the future.
Pistons: The choice of Stanley Johnson over Justise Winslow will raise some eyebrows but it can certainly be justified. Johnson should be able to defend his position and has offensive potential. I was surprised to see them take Darrun Hilliard in the second round with quality big men on the board but at least he should be able to shoot which was a huge need for them.
Nets: This completely turned around after the announcement of the trade because Rondae Hollis-Jefferson is the best perimeter defender in this draft class and will find a role in the NBA because of it. While losing Mason Plumlee hurts a little, it is hard to see him become even a league-average center and he will be properly paid much sooner. Chris McCullough is a fine but uninspiring pick and Steve Blake is an unnecessary warm body.
Cavs: Did not love them moving down when Tyus Jones and R.J. Hunter were on the board. Cedi Osman was a nice pick at the top of the second round because they can keep him overseas if desired and keeps their tax bill more manageable this year. Rakeem Christmas has the ability to help some teams out now but Cleveland does not exactly have big man minutes to spare whether or not Kevin Love returns.
Grizzlies: Jarell Martin has talent but the Grizzlies have actual immediate needs to fill and very few ways to get that done. Trading Jon Leuer for Andrew Harrison was a very nice move- they can develop him without much pressure to play immediately.
Spurs: There were good talents on the board for the Spurs and Milutinov will likely be overseas for a bit but he could end up being a nice player. Still would have loved R.J. Hunter or Kevon Looney at No. 26.
Knicks: It will take a lot of development for Kristaps Porzingis to become a dominant NBA player. He can shoot the ball and block some shots but an NBA power forward needs to be able to do much more than that. However, they did very well getting a pick in the teens for Tim Hardaway Jr. and using it to draft Jerian Grant. It was intriguing to see them get back in the draft a second time to grab Guillermo Hernangomez, an intriguing Spanish big man who was Porzingis’ teammate at Sevilla.
Wizards: Washington did not give up a ton to move up but Kelly Oubre will have to improve quickly to be of use to a team that has the ability to win now. He has a high ceiling but will need to work hard to get close to it.
Mavericks: Justin Anderson has potential but the Mavs got lucky that some talented players who should have gone earlier were still on the board and passed on all of them.
Jazz: Not the biggest fan of Trey Lyles, especially with some quality players on the board who make more sense for Utah long-term. I like Olivier Hanlan for a Utah team that has perimeter talent.
Trail Blazers: There is an irony that they traded Rondae Hollis-Jefferson for Mason Plumlee because RHJ has a much clearer role in the NBA. I do like Pat Connaughton as a quality choice in the 40’s.
Clippers: Did not have a pick, having traded their first for Doc Rivers.
Pelicans: They traded their first round pick to the Rockets for Omer Asik a year ago.
Bad Drafts
Hornets: Frank Kaminsky has a fascinating set of skills but taking him over Justise Winslow who somehow fell to No. 9 is a mistake.
Kings: I am higher on Willie Cauley-Stein than most because of his potential as a defensive stopper, but Sacramento had a chance to get their primary ballhandler in Emmanuel Mudiay.
Hawks: Atlanta moved down, picking up two seconds from a good team and then traded the pick they moved down to for Tim Hardaway Jr. Wow.
Bucks: They traded a future first round pick (albeit probably a late one) for Greivis Vasquez and then reached for Rashaud Vaughn when RJ Hunter and others were on the board.